Like many households, we are passing around various winter bugs with their share of fevers, aches, sniffles, sneezes and coughs.
The recipe for getting better in our house is lots of homemade, pasture-raised chicken broth, Netflix videos, and one or two of my favorite homemade cold soothers. This homemade honey ginger cough syrup is simple and fast to make, and delivers quick relief to dry coughs, and sore and scratchy throats.
Honey as Medicine
Honey has been used for thousands of years to soothe coughs and sore throats, and with good reason! In a study comparing honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment, honey was found to be a superior and preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection. And another three studies found there was no significant difference between honey versus dextromethorphan or honey versus diphenhydramine for treating acute cough in children.
And with a great taste and no side effects, honey is an excellent choice for easing coughs compared to over the counter syrups with pharmaceuticals, additives, artificial dyes and flavorings.
Try These Other Remedies…
- Homemade Vapor Rub for Colds and Sore Muscles
- Boost Your Immune System with Fire Cider Master Tonic
- Onion, Garlic and Ginger Homemade Cough Syrup
- Thyme Oil Vapor Steam
- Why You Shouldn’t Treat a Fever (Most of the Time)
Honey Ginger Cough Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 2-inch knob fresh ginger
- 1 Tbsp raw honey, (Do not give honey to infants under the age of 1.)
Instructions
- Peel, then finely grate ginger into a small bowl.
- Squeeze grated ginger through a fine mesh sieve (or just use your fingers) to release about 1 teaspoon of juice. Discard pulp.
- Mix the teaspoon of fresh ginger juice thoroughly into the tablespoon of honey.
- Take the syrup right away, swallowing slowly and deliberately.
- Take 2-3 times a day, as needed to soothe sore throat and dry coughing.
